high humidity | Bertram's Blog

The Day Before Summer

June 19, 2021 — Pat Bertram

Today was my day for watering the garden and since I had to go to work mid morning, I went outside fairly early to take care of my gardening responsibility. And eek. By 8:00 o’clock, it was 80 degrees with 80 percent humidity, and 80 parts fleas and mosquitos.

We generally have low humidity here, which makes the days of high humidity an especial affront. And the mosquitoes . . . they must be new to the area because they didn’t get the message that mosquito repellants were supposed to repel them. Still, I got through the task, though it was an effort, not just because of all the annoyances but because of the toll the high heat and searing sun and no rain is taking on my yard. Many of my poor plants are desiccating; I have brown stalks where once the larkspur held pride of place; and too much dying grass and invading weeds are making my various garden patches unsightly. It’s simply been too hot to spend much time outside cleaning out the beds.

Even worse, a few baby bushes look as if they’re giving up. Not that I blame them. Except for trying to keep the plants alive and doing whatever non-gardening jobs I need to do, I too have more or less given up. And it won’t even be summer here until 9:31 tomorrow night. I can’t imagine another three months of this heat, though I suppose I will make an accommodation with the weather as I have done with every other obstacle in my life.

Just not today.

I couldn’t bear to be outside even long enough to take a photo of the few flowers that are so bravely blooming. The cactus flower that accompanies this article was taken yesterday as I left the house to go to work. It’s gone today, and there will be no more pretty yellow blossoms to mask the vicious prickles on the plants.

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Pat Bertram is the author of Grief: The Inside Story – A Guide to Surviving the Loss of a Loved One. “Grief: The Inside Story is perfect and that is not hyperbole! It is exactly what folk who are grieving need to read.” –Leesa Healy, RN, GDAS GDAT, Emotional/Mental Health Therapist & Educator

Posted in gardening, life. Tags: cactus flower, dealing with heat, dealing with obstacles, first day of summer, high humidity. 2 Comments »

My Beach Front Property

March 3, 2016 — Pat Bertram

I left Alice, Texas feeling great. I’d had a good night’s sleep and the whole day stretched ahead of me to get my oil changed and the valves adjusted.

I headed directly to the VW dealer that offered an express oil change lane, they ushered me into line, and then my momentum crashed to a halt. Although those VW aficionados loved my car (even the office workers sneaked a peak at the great-looking classic) not a single mechanic knew how to adjust the valves. Some didn’t even know what they were (one fellow wanted to send me to a tire dealer for valve stems). The only folks who knew what needed to be done were suits, and though I cajoled, they didn’t want to get their hands dirty, not even for old time’s sake. They did, however, make numerous phone calls and tracked down a mechanic who only worked on air-cooled VWs. He had bad knees, so while we waited for his younger employee to come into work (and while we waited for the engine to cool) I visited with his wife, who worked as his office manager.

Apparently the lure of my lovely car was too much, because he adjusted the valves himself and gave the car a good going over. He thought everything looked great, was working smoothly (except that the valves had become too tight, which is why the engine got hot enough to vapor lock). He even took the time to clean my windshield and fill my tires.

And then I was on my way to Padre Island. What can I say? Ocean (well, gulf). Beachfront property. Walks on the beach. Private bird tour. New friend. (Spent most of the day talking to a woman from Colorado who pretty much lived on tbe road. Instant sisterhood.)

I paid for two nights, and then this morning paid for two more. The humidity is the highest I’ve ever experienced. Any higher, it would be called rain. And the wind is constant. (Last night I kept waking up when my tent hit me in the face because it was laid almost flat in the wind) but the tent held up. There was so much moisture on my bug this morning that I took the opportunity to clean the car. (Had no need for a hose. A soon as I wiped off the first layer of dirt/water, another layer of water appeared.

I didn’t want anyone to worry about me (and I didn’t want the car to rust after too much non-use), so I drove to town today where I found a cell signal.

I’ll be leaving Padre island on Saturday morning and will head for Austin. I will be meeting a dear friend for the first time, and I plan to get a motel room for the night so I look presentable.

But now? Ho hum. Back to Paradise.

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(Pat Bertram is the author of the suspense novels Light Bringer, More Deaths Than One, A Spark of Heavenly Fire, and Daughter Am I. Bertram is also the author of Grief: The Great Yearning, “an exquisite book, wrenching to read, and at the same time full of profound truths.”)

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